File System Path Alias

1. A method of performing an operation on a multi-platform heterogeneous network comprising: (a) obtaining path alias table (PAT) information necessary to create a PAT, wherein the PAT information comprises one or more aliases and location information necessary to locate a desired path for the one or more aliases; (b) resolving the one or more aliases using the PAT information by: (i) finding the desired path for the one or more aliases within a file system of a server; and (ii) building the PAT comprising the one or more aliases and the desired paths for each alias; (c) storing the PAT in a memory on the server; (d) receiving a request for an operation from a client, wherein: (i) the request comprises one of the aliases; and (ii) the server file system and the PAT are not exposed to the client; (e) examining the PAT for the one of the aliases received from the client in the request; and (f) performing the requested operation using the desired path that corresponds to the alias in the PAT.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PAT information further comprises information necessary for the server to scan its own file system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PAT information further comprises information necessary to append a sub-directory to the desired path.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PAT information further comprises a path, a type, a domain, a drive, and a path directory.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server interfaces with the network such that the desired path is for a different machine on the network.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PAT operates on an extended binary coded decimal interchange code (EDCDIC) operating system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the PAT operates on an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) operating system.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the aliases comprises a secondary alias that refers to another alias.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation comprises a request to retrieve a file at a location identified by the alias.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operation comprises a request to send a file to a location identified by the alias.

11. An apparatus for performing an operation on a multi-platform heterogeneous network comprising: (a) path alias table (PAT) information necessary to create a PAT, wherein the PAT information comprises one or more aliases and location information necessary to locate a desired path for the one or more aliases, wherein the PAT is not exposed to a client; (b) a server having a memory wherein the server is configured to: (i) resolve the one or more aliases using the PAT information by: (1) finding the desired path for the one or more aliases within a server file system, wherein the server file system is not exposed to the client; and (2) building a PAT comprising the one or more aliases and the desired paths for each alias; (iii) store the PAT in the memory; (iv) receive a request for an operation from the client, wherein the request comprises one of the aliases; (v) examine the PAT for the one of the aliases received from the client in the request; and (vi) perform the requested operation using the desired path that corresponds to the alias in the PAT.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the PAT information further comprises alias information necessary for the server to scan its own file system.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the PAT information further comprises alias information necessary to append a sub-directory to the desired path.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the PAT information further comprises a path, a type, a domain, a drive, and a path directory.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to interface with the network such that the desired path is for a different machine on the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the PAT operates on an extended binary coded decimal interchange code (EDCDIC) operating system.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the PAT operates on an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) operating system.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 ,wherein one of the aliases comprises a secondary alias that refers to another alias.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operation comprises a request to retrieve a file at a location identified by the alias.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the operation comprises a request to send a file to a location identified by the alias.

21. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for performing an operation on a multi-platform heterogeneous network, the method comprising: (a) obtaining path alias table (PAT) information necessary to create a PAT, wherein the PAT information comprises one or more aliases and location information necessary to locate a desired path for the one or more aliases; (b) resolving the one or more aliases using the PAT information by: (i) finding the desired path for the one or more aliases within a file system of a server; and (ii) building the PAT comprising the one or more aliases and the desired path for each alias; (c) storing the PAT in a memory on the server; (d) receiving a request for an operation from a client, wherein: (i) the request comprises one of the aliases; and (ii) the server file system and the PAT are not exposed to the client; (e) examining the PAT for the one of the aliases received from the client in the request; and (f) performing the requested operation using the desired path that corresponds to the alias in the PAT.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the PAT information further comprises alias information necessary for the server to scan its own file system.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the PAT information further comprises alias information necessary to append a sub-directory to the desired path.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the PAT information further comprises a path, a type, a domain, a drive, and a path directory.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the server interfaces with the network such that the desired path is for a different machine on the network.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the PAT operates on an extended binary coded decimal interchange code (EDCDIC) operating system.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the PAT operates on an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) operating system.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein one of the aliases comprises a secondary alias that refers to another alias.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the operation comprises a request to retrieve a file at a location identified by the alias.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 21 , wherein the operation comprises a request to send a file to a location identified by the alias.